Double deck stock car



4 Sheets-Sheet l gi L a Li R. D. BRYAN DOUBLBDECK STOCK CAR Filed Feb. 23, 1942 'o o o no 0 WHJUUUHUU April 13, 1943;

April 13,1943. R, b. BRYAN DOUBLE DECK swocx cAR Filed Feb. 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13, 1943. R. D. BRYAN DOUBLE DECK STOCK CAR Filed Feb. 23, 1942 4 Sheets-Shee't 3 April 13, 1943. v R. D. BRYAN DOUBLE DECK STOCK cAR Z 2 [i an 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed'Feb. 23, 1942 5y Fa] fixdehg Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

The present invention relates to double deck stock cars and is particularly concerned with improved supporting devices for supporting the auxiliary movable deck of sucha stock car in any of its various adjustable positions.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved double deck structure for stock cars which is firm and durable and which is adapted to be used upon alltypes of stock cars and which has such a simple structure that it is adapted to be manufactured at a Very low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved supporting arrangement for a movable deck in a stock car which occupies a minimum amount of space when it is performing its supporting function and which is adapted to be moved back into a recess behind the wooden slats of the stock car when it is not in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved supporting arrangement for a movable deck in a stock car which has va minimum amount of moving parts and which is adapted to be automatically moved into the-supporting position when the supportingdevices are withdrawn from their recesses in the side of the car.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved supporting devices for movable decks of stock cars which are so arranged that they are firmly supported in a nested position when they are not in use and which are adapted to have such engagement with the stringers of the movable deck that there is no possibility of their becoming disengaged while they are supporting the deck.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved supporting devices for movable decks of stock cars which are adapted to besecured in the channeled side frame members of an ordinary stock car and. also recessed therein when they are not in use so that there are no projecting parts in the stock car when the supporting devices are not being used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are four sheets:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of one end of a stock car equipped with deck supports and a movable deck embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the stock car of Fig. 1 showing the movable deck in one of its positions and showing the location of a plurality of deck supporting devices embodying the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on a plane on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of :Fig. '5 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing one of the deck supporting devices in its deck supporting position;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of one of the supporting devices as it looks in the position of Fig. 4 from the interior of the car, the figure being partially broken away to show the stub shaft with which the device is provided; 7

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. "7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the housing for the supporting bracket utilized in the devices of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view .taken on the plane of the line 8--8 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction-of the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 4 with the deck supporting bracket in the position which it assumes when it is nested in its housing and not in use.

Referring 'to Figs. 1 to 3, 10 indicates in its entirety 'a double deck stock car which is provided with a movable deck H in addition to its usual stationary floor l2. The present movable decksupporting arrangements may be utilized in any kind of stock cars but are preferably utilized by stock cars of the type having side frame members l3 which consist of metal channels.

The .side frame members 13 support on their interior a plurality ,of wooden slats M, the slats being-separated by the usual cracksl 5 and forming the side wall of the carexcept at a predetermined intermediate height there is arail l6 which may be constructed of a rectangular or square piece of lumber supported on'the angle brackets 1-! carried by the side frame members l3.

The rails I6 preferably extend throughout the full length of the car andare supplemented by transverse rails 18 extending across the ends of the car,

.At the doorways t9 the rails I6 are absent, but the door may be provided with a transverse removable pole '20 usually called the bull pole for to the longitudinally extending channels 28, 29.

The floor of the movable deck I comprises longitudinally extending floor boards 30 secured to the transverse channeled members 21 by bolts or any convenient fastening means such as bolts and clips. I

Similar channeled members to those indicated at 28, 29, are also secured to the channeled members 23, 29 at each end of the deck frame one of which is indicated at 3| in Fig. 2.

The movable deck I] isadapted to be moved by means of a plurality of supporting chains 32, 33, the first chain being secured to one side of the deck and the second to the other side as shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of these chains are secured to the movable deck [I at regularly spaced points longitudinally of the car and thus another pair of chains may be seen in Fig. 2.

The lower end of each of the chains 32, 33 is secured to the eye of an eye bolt 34 which passes through an angle bracket 35 that is fixedly secured to the channels 29 or 28. At the right side of the car in Fig. 3 the chain 33 passes upward about a pulley 36 carried by a bracket 31'. Chain 33 then passes over to a double sheaf pulley 36 carried by a bracket 39 at the left side of the car, the double sheaves being visible at the top of Fig. 1. The chain 32 passes over one of these sheaves and the outwardly extending ends of the chains 32 and 33 are visible in the upper part of Fig. 1.

Chains 32, 33 are both secured to a common ring 46 which is secured to a single chain 4| that extends to and has its ends secured to a shaft 42. The same arrangement exists with regard to the other chains and pulleys that are located longitudinally of the car at regularly spaced points. For example, four such pairs of chains may be used to support the deck and all of the chains 4| have their ends secured to the same shaft 42 at one side of the car.

The shaft 42 is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 43, 44 and may extend over the major portion of the length of the car so that all of the chains 4| may be wrapped upon the same shaft.

A pawl-and-ratchet lever arrangement (forming no part of the invention, and not shown) is indicated by numeral 45, Fig. 1, for holding the shaft 42 in any of its desired positions and permitting it to be rotated to wrap the chains 4| about the shaft and raise the deck The pawl-and-ratchet arrangement 45 is not intended to hold the deck in its fixed position but is merely to hold it temporarily while it is being elevated or lowered gradually in a step-by-step manner.

The movable deck H is adapted in its lowermost position to rest upon the rails |6, I6, |8, |8 as these rails are arranged in the path of movement of the longitudinal channels 28, 29.

In addition to the rails l6, IS, the car is preferably provided with a plurality of supporting devices adapted to be recessed in the side channels |3 or withdrawn from their recesses to be used to support the deck II as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. These supporting devices preferably are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9 in detail. Each of them preferably includes a housing member 46 and a deck supporting bracket 41. The brackets 41 may be seen underneath the deck II at each side in Fig. 3.

As seen in Fig. l, the side frame members l3 are each provided with three of the supporting devices 48 arranged at different levels. This permits the location of the deck H at the various levels corresponding to the location of these supporting devices 48 in Fig. 1.

Any number of supporting devices of this type may be used and at any desired levels, the different levels being adapted for the transportation of stock or fowl or animals of different size.

All of the supporting devices 48 are installed in substantially the same way and therefore the description of the installation and construction of one of these devices will suffice. For example, in Figs. 4 to 9 the numeral |3 again indicates one of the channeled side frame members each of which is provided with a Web 49, a pair of side flanges 50, 5|, and a pair of oppositely projecting flanges 52, 53, carried by the side flanges 50, 5|.

The slats M which form the fence-like side wall of the stock car are cut away at 54, 55 to form a recess in the slat wall inside the car to permit the manipulation of the brackets 41 further to be described.

The web 49 of each channel |3 where one of the devices 48 is installed, is also cut away to form an elongated aperture 56, the main part of which is rectangular in shape and which communicates with an elongated rectangular slot 51 shown in dotted lines at the bottom of the aperture 56 in Fig. 5.

The housing 46 preferably comprises a substantially rectangular box member of cast metal, the side walls 58 and 59 of which are also adapted to serve as attaching flanges. The rear side 60 is open as indicated in Fig. 4, but the front is provided with a wall 6| which has apertures egistering with the apertures 56 and 51 previously mentioned.

Referring to Fig. 7 the apertures in the front Wall have been indicated by the numerals l5 and 16. As a matter of usual practice the apertures 56, 51 in the channeled frame member are gencrally cut slightly larger than the apertures 56, 51 in the housing to make sure there will be no interference with the bracket 41.

The top wall 62 and the bottom wall 63 may be cut away at 64, 65, intermediate the corners, so that what has been termed a housing is actually a frame with suitable attaching flanges. The attaching flanges 58, 59 carry at a point slightly above the midway point, a pair of inwardly projecting bearing lugs 66, 61 which may be substantially cylindrical, and which are aligned with each other.

These bearing lugs 66, 61 are provided with aligned bores 68, 69 for receiving a stub shaft 10. The stub shaft 10 may have a tight frictional fit in the bores 66, 69, orit may be retained in its place by engagement of its ends with the side flanges 59, 5| of the channeled frame members l3.

The side walls 58, 59 are provided with a plurality of through apertures H preferably symmetrically located and four in number for receiving the rivets 12 which pass through apertures 13 in the channel flanges 58, 51 to secure the housing member 46 to the channeled frame member l3.

The housing 46 may also be provided with auxiliary reinforcing ribs 14 extending from one wall 58 to the other wall 59 except at the slot 16. The bearing lugs 66, 61 also preferably have a pair of stop extensions 11, 18 which project into the aperture 15 for engagement with complementary stop members located on the bracket 41, further to be described.

Stop members 11, 18 have a space 19 between their ends sufficient to pass the web 88 of the bracket 41 so that these stop members do not interfere with forward or backward pivotal or sliding movement of the bracket 41.

The supporting bracket 41 also comprises a cast metal member preferably made of steel, and this bracket is provided with an upper supporting flange 8| having a flat supporting surface 82 which is supported in a horizontal position when the bracket is being used as shown in Fig. 4.

The supporting flange 8! preferably has an upwardly extending flange 83 at its end for the purpose of engaging inside of the longitudinally extending frame member 28 of the deck I I. This stop member 83 provides additional assurance that the deck cannot slide off the supporting brackets, and prevents the supporting bracket from sliding back into its recess when it is engaging the frame of the deck.

The supporting flange 8| of the bracket 41 is carried by the centrally located web 88, located beneath it so that the web 88 and flange 8! present a substantially T-shaped cross section. The web 88 may taper toward the free end, that is the right end of the bracket 41, and is preferably provided at that end with a horizontally extending slot 84, which is defined on its lower side (Fig. 4) by an outwardly projecting lug or shoulder 85.

Referring to Fig. 9, there the supporting bracket is shown in the position which it takes when it is pivoted down and recessed in the housing 46. At that time the slot 84 receives the flange portion 86 of the front wall which is at the base of the slot 16. The lug 85 is located behind the front wall BI, and the slot 84 serves to latch the movable bracket in this recessed position.

At its rear end, that is the left end of Fig. 4, the web 88 of the supporting bracket 41 is thickened as indicated by the curved shoulders 81, 88 (Fig. 6), and the body portion 89 at this end is made of sufficient thickness to fit between the ends of the bearing lugs 66, 81 with a sliding and rotating fit.

This body portion 89 is provided with an elongated through aperture 98 (Fig. 4) which is of sufficient width to receive the stop shaft I8, and of sufficient length to permit the sliding movement of the bracket on the shaft 18, as described hereinafter.

The oval aperture 98 extends through the bracket body 89 from side to side. The curved line 9| at the left end of the aperture 98 in Fig. indicates the wall of the aperture at that side, as well as the outside of the shaft 18. The thickness of the portion 92 of the bracket may be substantially the same as the web 98, and the thick body portion 89 extends to the abrupt shoulder 93.

The upper flange SI of the bracket 41 merges into a stop lug 94 at the rear end of the bracket (Fig. 4) and the stop lug 94 may project laterally from the web 89 of the bracket so that its end is flush with the surface of the body 89.

There is a stop lug 94, 91, on each side of the Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the stops 11, 18 of the housing engage the stop lugs 94, 9'! of the bracket 41 and also engage beneath the upper supporting flange 8|.

The thickness of the web 88 is such that it will pass through the slot 16 (Fig. 7) but the body portion 89 is as wide as the aperture 15. Thus the lower part of this body portion 89 may be provided with an angular cut forming the surfaces 98, 99 (Fig. 4) which serve as supporting and stop surfaces for the lower part of the bracket.

When the bracket is in horizontal supporting position as shown in Fig. 4 the surface 98 engages complementary flat surfaces I88 at the base of the aperture 15 (Fig. 7). At the same time the stop shoulder 79 engages the front wall at the points fill and provides additional support for the lower part of the bracket. These stop members H, 18; 94, 91; 98, I88 and 99, I8 relieve the strain on the shaft 18 when the bracket 41 is in its supporting position. It has already been shown how the bracket may be secured in the position of Fig. 4 where it supports the deck, or that of Fig. 9 where it is recessed in the wall.

The operation of the bracket and its mode of manipulation is as follows: When the bracket is in the position of Fig. 9, that is recessed in the wall, it is only necessary to lift upon the projecting lug 89 of the bracket until the front wall portion 6! is free of the slot 84 (Fig. 9). During this lifting motion the stop lugs 94, 9'! on the bracket, only one of which, 94, can be seen in Fig. 9, pass up in front of the stop lugs T1, 18, one of which, 18, is seen in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The diagonal arrangement of the oval aperture 98 causes the bracket to move forward slightly as it is raised.

The length of aperture 98 is such that the stop members 94 and 91 on the bracket 41 may be raised up above the stop lugs H, 18 of the housing (see Fig. 9).

Then the shaft 18 will engage the lower end of the oval aperture 98 in Fig. 9, and the bracket 41 may be pivoted outward, that is, counterclockwise in Fig. 9, on the shaft 18.

The stop lugs 94, 91 then pass over behind the stop lugs l1, l8 and the stop surfaces 96 and (Fig. 4) may come into engagement with each other when the bracket is slid toward the right until the shaft 78 engages the end surface 9! of the oval aperture 98. Finally, the stop surfaces 98 and 99 drop into engagement with the surfaces I08, HH and the bracket 41 is provided with a multiplicity of different points of support holding it in rigid horizontal position.

When it is desired to move the bracket from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 9, the deck must, of course, be lifted from the bracket, and this is accomplished by means of the chains 32, 33, 4|, shaft 42, and pawl and ratchet lever 45. This lifting mechanism is, of course, used whenever it is desired to raise or lower the deck, and the deck may be held at any of a plurality of different positions. For example, it may be supported on the side rails I5, or upon any of the three sets of supporting devices 48, Fig. 1, which are located at different levels.

Assuming the weight of the deck has been may then be lifted until the shoulder 99 clears the stop surface llll. That is, it is pivoted counter-clockwise in Fig. 4. The oval aperture 98 will then be at substantially horizontal position, and the bracket 41 may be pushed into its housing 46, that is, toward the left in Fig. 5 until the shaft is at the right end of the oval aperture 90.

Then the thick portion 89 of the brackets 41 is in osition to clear the stop surfaces I00 (Fig. 1) and the web 80 is in position to be received in the slot 16 when the bracket 41 is pivoted downward in a clockwise direction. The backward push of the bracket 41 on shaft 10 also causes the stop lugs 94, 91 to clear the stop lugs 11, 18 on the housing during this clockwise movement of the bracket. When the bracket has been moved to substantially vertical position it may be dropped with its slot 84 engaging the front wall 6| of the housing to hold it in the position of Fig. 9.

During this manipulation of the bracket 41 its left end may protrude from the channels l3, but that is immaterial as the channels are open on the outside of the car.

Referring to Fig. 9 it will be seen that the bracket 41 is recessed in the wall of the car, that is, all of its parts are inside of the inner surface of the slats 14. The slats M are cut off at 54, 55 adjacent each bracket and are secured to the vertical channel members l3 by bolts passing through the flanges 52, 53 with an intermediate spacer. Atall other points the slats may be bolted directly to the web 49 of each channel member l3.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved supporting arrangement for the movable deck of a double deck stock car, which is absolutely rigid, and which removes all of the strain from the hoisting mechanism. When the present supporting devices are not in use they are recessed in the wall of the car so that there are no projecting parts that might interfere with the movement of the deck when it is being hoisted or that might injure the stock.

The cooperating stop arrangements on the movable bracket and its supporting frame are adapted to take the strain off the shaft which supports the bracket for pivotal movement.

The present devices have a minimum number of parts, and are adapted to be used for a long period of time without any possibility of getting out of order.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the recise details of construction as set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In a double deck stock car, the combination of a floor supporting frame with side walls and end walls, said side walls and end walls having channelled metal frame members extending vertically thereof, a movable deck located between the walls of said car and comprising a supporting frame and a floor, means for lifting said deck to any of a plurality of different elevations and a plurality of movable brackets adapted to engage under the frame of said deck to support it in said predetermined positions, said brackets being removed from the bracket 41 of Fig. 5, the bracket movably mounted in said channelled side frame members and adapted to be moved into the side walls of said car to a position where the brackets do not project into the interior of the car, said channelled side frame members being provided with apertures for receiving said brackets, and each of said brackets being movable into a frame carried by said channelled side frame members, said brackets having slots extending diagonally to the supporting surface of the bracket, each bracket slot being mounted on a pin, whereby the bracket tends to move on said pin outward into supporting position or backward into housed position, said brackets and said frame members each supporting a pair of stop surfaces for simultaneous engagement to hold the brackets in decksupporting position.

2. In a supporting devicefor a movable deck of a stock car, the combination of a vertically extending side frame member of the car with a metal housing member, said metal housing memher being carried by said side frame member and a movably mounted deck supporting bracket carried by said housing, said deck supporting bracket having a substantially horizontal position for support of the deck, and a vertical recessed position in which the major portion of the bracket is housed in the wall of which the side frame member is a part, said side frame member comprising a channelled member, and said housing being located between the flanges of said channelled member, said bracket and said housing member each supporting a pair of stop surfaces for simultaneous engagement to hold the bracket in deck-supporting position.

3. In a supporting device for the movable deck of a double deck stock car, the combination of a metal housing having attaching flanges for attachment to a car frame member, said housing having a transversely extending shaft and a bracket pivotally and slidably mounted on said shaft, stop means on said bracket and housing adapted to be engaged or disengaged by sliding and pivotal movement of said bracket on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface adapted to engage under the frame of a movable deck and having a diagonally extending slot for receiving said shaft, whereby the bracket tends to move outward into supporting position or backwardinto housed position, due to the force of gravity, said bracket and said housing each supporting a pair of stop surfaces for simultaneous engagement to hold the bracket in deck-supporting position.

4. In a supporting device for the movable deck of a double deck stock car, the combination of a metal housing having attaching flanges for attachment to a car frame member, said housing having a transversely extending shaft and a bracket pivotally and slidably mounted on said shaft, stop means on said bracket and housing adapted to be engaged or disengaged by sliding and pivotal movement of said bracket on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface adapted to engage under the frame of a movable deck and having a diagonally extending aperture forreceiving said shaft, said aperture being of sufficient width longitudinally of the bracket to permit a sliding movement, and stop means carried by the bracket and housing for engagement to hold said bracket in substantially horizontal position when said shaft is at one end of said aperture, said bracket being movable backwardly and upwardly on said shaft until it can be pivoted downward into said housing, whereby the bracket tends to move outward into supporting position or backward into housed position, due to the force of gravity, said stop means comprising a pair of stop surfaces carried by said bracket and said housing in each case for simultaneous engagement to hold the bracket in said supporting position.

5. In a supporting device for the movable deck of a double deck stock car, the combination of a metal housing having attaching flanges for attachment to a car frame member, said housing having a transversely extending shaft and a bracket pivotally and slidably mounted on said shaft, stop means on said bracket and housing adapted to be engaged or disengaged by sliding and pivotal movement of said bracket on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface adapted to engage under the frame of a movable deck and having a diagonally extending aperture for receiving said shaft, said aperture being of sufiicient width longitudinally of the bracket to permit a sliding movement, and stop means carried by the bracket and housing for engagement to hold said bracket in substantially horizontal position when said shaft is at one end of said aperture, said bracket being movable backwardly and upwardly on said shaft until it can be pivoted downward into said housing, and said bracket and housing having latching means for holding said bracket in housed position, whereby the bracket tends to move outward into supporting position or backward into housed position, due to the force of gravity, said stop means comprising a pair of stop surfaces carried by said bracket and said housing in each case for simultaneous engagement to hold the. bracket in said supporting position.

6. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having 'a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second step carried by said bracket, saidstops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with each other and the said supporting surface is substantially horizontal.

7. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with each other and the said supporting surface is substantially horizontal, and similar stop members on the other of said flanges and the other side of said bracket whereby the bracket is provided with a three point support.

8. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with each other and the said supporting surface is substantially horizontal, said bracket having a slot formed in its end portion and said housing having a flange for engaging in said'slot when the bracket is nested in said housing in vertical position.

9. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, saidhousing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with each other and the said supporting surface is substantially horizontal, said bracket having at its extreme end an upwardly extending shoulder for engaging the side of a deck frame member to assure the location of the bracket with respect to the frame member.

10. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with eachother and the said supporting surface is substantially horizontal, said housing being formed with a front wall having an aperture adapted to pass the bracket when mounted on said. shaft.

11. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housin adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried by one of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement with each other and the said supportin surface is substantially horizontal, said bracket having a vertically extending flange mounted by a transverse flange which is provided with said supporting surfaces.

12. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting housing adapted to be secured to a car frame member, said housing having a pair of attaching side flanges and having a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having a laterally elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, a stop carried byone of said side flanges and a second stop carried by said bracket, said stops being so located that when the shaft is at one end of said aperture the stops are in engagement ,with each other and the said supporting surface iS substantially horizontal, said bracket having a vertically extending flange mounted by a transverse flange which is provided with said supporting surface, and said bracket having its rear end provided with a relatively thick body surrounding said laterally elongated aperture.

13. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be secured to the side flanges of a channelled frame member, said frame having a pair of side flanges, with a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having an elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, said aperture extending longitudinally and diagonally downward with respect to the bracket when the bracket is in supporting position, stop means carried by said bracket and engaging stop means carried by said frame for engagement with each other when the bracket is in horizontal load supporting position, said bracket being movable by means of said diagonal slot on said shaft rearwardly and upwardly until said stop means pass each other to permit the bracket to be pivoted downward.

14, In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars'or the like, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be secured to the side flanges of a channelled frame member, said frame having a pair of side flanges,with a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a 'movableb-racket mounted .on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame'member and having an elongated 'aperture surrounding said shaft, said aperture extending longitudinally and diagonally downward with respect to" the bracket when the bracket is in supporting position, stop means carried by said bracket and engaging stop means carried by said frame for engagement with each other when the bracket is in horizontal load a supporting position, said bracket being movable by means of said diagonal slot onsaid shaft rearwardly and upwardly until said stop means pass each other to'permit the bracket to be pivoted downward, said stop means comprising laterally projecting lugs carried by each side of the bracket and inwardly projecting lugs carried by each side side flanges of a channelled frame member, said frame having a pair of side flanges, with a trans- .versely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft,

said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having an elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, said aperture extending longitudinally and diagonally downward with respect to the bracket when the bracket is in supporting position, stop means carried by said bracket and engaging stop means carried by said frame for engagement with each other when the bracket is in horizontal load supporting position, said bracket being movable by means of said diagonal slot on said shaft rearwardly and upwardly until said stop means pass each other to permit the bracket to be pivoted downward, said stop means comprising laterally projecting lugs carried by each side of the bracket and inwardly projecting lugs carried by each side flange of said frame, and also comprising a stop shoulder located on the lower part of said bracket for engagement with face flanges on said frame.

16. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be secured to the side flanges of a channelled frame member, said frame having a pair of side flanges, with a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having an elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, said aperture extending longitudinally and diagonally downward with respect to the bracket when the bracket is in supporting position, stop means carried by said bracket and engaging stop means carried by said frame for engagement with each other when the bracket is in horizontal load supporting position, said bracket being movable by means of said diagonal slot on said shaft rearwardly and upwardly until said stop means pass each other to permit the bracket to be pivoted downward, said bracket having an upwardly turned stop flange on its end for engagement with the side of a deck frame member.

17. In a supporting device for movable decks of stock cars or the like, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be secured to the side flanges of a channelled frame member, said frame having a pair of side flanges, with a transversely extending shaft carried by said side flanges, a movable bracket mounted on said shaft, said bracket having a supporting surface for a deck frame member and having an elongated aperture surrounding said shaft, said aperture extending longitudinally and diagonally downward with respect to the bracket when the bracket is in supporting position, stop means carried by said bracket and engaging stop means carried by said frame for engagement with each other when the bracket is in horizontal load supporting position, said bracket being movable by means of said diagonal slot on said shaft rearwardly and upwardly until said stop means pass each other to permit the bracket to be pivoted downward, the free end of said bracket having a slot and the lower portion of said frame having a flange for engagement in said slot to hold the bracket nested in said frame in substantially vertical position.

RALPH DAY BRYAN. 

